The US promises hundreds of millions of dollars in aid money if the fledgling country cleans up its act

The United States government is promising East Timor hundreds of millions of dollars in aid money — if it can organize a plan to clean up its corruption within a year, a tall order for a country that was nearly crushed at independence by Indonesia and whose institutions are in early stages of development. Only five of its 15 ministries have internal audit processes in place and World Bank statistics indicate corruption is on the rise.

In late 2005 the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an innovative new development agency funded by the US Congress with the mandate to tie aid to policy reform milestones, approved a full contract — called a compact — with the fledgling country. Usually the compacts are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and are used to develop specific projects, such as new highway or hospitals, but a flawed proposal in 2006 and then national elections in 2007 have delayed the process and Timor is still without a compact.

With the national elections completed, the MCC has said it is ready to consider a new proposal from Timor, but over the past two years another problem has emerged: corruption. Timor is currently failing the MCC's control of corruption criterion.

The MCC uses 17 criteria in three sectors to rate countries: fair and impartial governance, investing in people, and economic freedom. The control-of corruption criterion is based on data collected locally by the World Bank and it is the only pass/fail one. In other words, it is the one thing Timor cannot afford to fail if it hopes to win a full compact. The local head of the World Bank, however, told Asia Sentinel he is confident Timor will right itself by the time the proposal is accepted.

“You have a very dedicated government committed to fighting corruption here,” Antonio Franco, World Bank country director, said. “I would assume that possibly by the end of this year they'll be okay.”

Last month East Timor's prime minister, Xanana Gusmao, introduced his plan to create a civil service commission and an anti-corruption commission, declaring 2008 the “Year of administrative reform.”

Franco said measures like these should have an immediate effect.

“In most cases that's all you need is to establish the framework,” he said. Six years from independence from Indonesia’s failed rule and subsequent devastation of the tiny country, Timor has found it difficult to create the framework, however.

Franco said this created a problem because there were few benchmarks to measure corruption.

“It's not very specific data and it's not based on very in depth country analysis,” Franco said.

John Hewko, vice president of the MCC, said he was convinced the government would fix its corruption rating soon and so Timor would still be eligible for a compact.

Hewko, along with a small delegation from Washington, D.C., visited East Timor last week to meet with the government about the new project proposal. Timor's initial 2005 proposal was rejected because it was too broad and it was not discussed with leaders of civil society.

The first step to any compact, Hewko said, is public consultation.

“We view this as a program between the people of the United States and the people of East Timor,” he said. The consultation process is followed by a feasibility study and Timor will base its proposal on that study.

The entire process can take up to 18 months, and during that time the MCC will push for better control of corruption. Hewko said that often the amount of money at stake is so great that countries improve their ratings for fear of losing the money. The projects can be terminated if goals are not met.

“There's something called the MCC effect,” he said. “Already we've seen this. Countries try to do well to be eligible [for a compact].”

Although the amount of money Timor could get will be based on its future project proposal, the money should be significant.

“These are large grants and they focus people's attention. This isn't $10 million, but more like $100 million” said Darius Nassiry, the MCC's country director for the department of compact development.

To a country like East Timor where most people live on a few dollars a day, the project alone could provide countless jobs and a needed boost to the economy.

About half the country is unemployed and the gross domestic product is based heavily on the country's nascent petroleum revenue. In Timor, not only are there few skilled workers, but even those with skills say they have trouble finding work. Thousands still live in displacement camps scattered around Dili, the nation's capital, too poor to rebuild their homes, and without income. Tens of thousands lost everything following violent civil unrest in 2006, and while the government has made some progress moving people back home, underlying causes—lack of jobs, skills, etc—are harder to fix.

Hewko said the MCC aims to fix just these sorts of problems through their compacts. He said Timor's project should have a heavy emphasis on infrastructure and rural development, and be “rooted in activities that promote economic growth.”

The MCC was established in 2004 as an initiative by the Bush administration as a “new” approach to aid development. Some critics have said the Bush administration should have simply reworked the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. government's existing development agency, but Hewko and others said USAID is actually quite different.

“USAID has a much broader mandate than the MCC,” said Hewko. “Our projects are highly specialized and we only work with countries that are doing well.”

FRETILIN welcomes President's call for respect for Petroleum Fund, commits to cooperationDili: The leader of the FRETILIN parliamentary group, Aniceto Guterres, has welcomed calls from President Jose Ramos-Horta for the de-facto AMP government to operate within the existing petroleum fund laws and not to unnecessarily and unilaterally withdraw additional revenue from the Fund.

"FRETILIN supports the president and what he said regarding the management of petroleum receipts and budget preparation and execution," said Guterres. FRETILIN is the largest party in the National Parliament.

In his speech to the nation on the sixth anniversary of Timor-Leste's restoration of independence on 20 May 2002, President Ramos-Horta praised the work by the Alkatiri government in establishing a strong petroleum revenue stream for the people of Timor-Leste.

This was President Horta's second major address since returning from Australia after having survived an attempt on his life on February 11, 2008

Dr Ramos-Horta said: "…we should acknowledge the success of the negotiations regarding petroleum, which culminated in the Timor Sea Treaty and the creation of the Petroleum Fund, an institution recognized internationally as among the best in the world.

"At this time, we have a Petroleum Fund with nearly USD$3 billion that can be utilized by the current government, without needing to amend the law in force, as long as the government can demonstrate its capacity to bring about good budget management and execution, and it can put forward convincing plans and programs to the mandated institutions," President Ramos-Hortaadded.

Mr Guterres commented: "These are very clear and strong indications of the President's desire to see a responsible, inclusive and consultative approach to ongoing management of the National Petroleum Fund establishment by the FRETILIN government. It reflects what we have been saying since the fund began in 2005 and when we opposed Mr Xanana Gusmao's calls for amendments and more money to be used from the petroleum fund. These statements by the President clearly support our prudent and realistic approach to revenue management and budgeting."

In November 2007 Timor-Leste's much praised Petroleum Fund was ranked No. 3 in the world out of 32 similar state-owned funds in 28 countries, by the renowned Washington think tank, the Peterson Institute for International Economics. It has been widely acclaimed by international donors, the multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and IMF and other international experts, for its transparency, accountability and security.

The current Petroleum Fund Law is also domestically valued and respected, having attained national consensus in its establishment. It won unanimous approved in the previous parliament, with every political party (except CNRT) which is now represented in today's parliament voting in favor of it, though current CNRT members of parliament who were in the last parliament (as members of other parties) also voted for it.

"No changes should be made to this petroleum fund institution and petroleum revenue management framework without undertaking an equally wide public consultation process over the same period of time. Any legislative amendments without this will lack legitimacy. However, we also believe that the de-facto government would find it hard to get the numbers to make any of the proposed changes," added Gueterres.

One changes would allow the government to take more revenue annually to have a larger budget. The current budget is already twice the last FRETILIN government budget and four to five times the average budget FRETILIN had available for 2004-2006.

"FRETILIN stands by its election promise to strongly defend Timor-Leste's Petroleum Fund from irresponsible and wasteful spending raids by the de-facto AMP government. They have delivered nothing for the poor of our country despite having had two huge budgets between August 2007 and today. But what we now see are only a lot of new cars, a lot of corruption, a lot of handouts that do not benefit all of the very needy in our society, and a very few from the business and political elite getting very rich. We see the diversion of resources away from those who truly need them, but little for the people," said Guterres.

"As President Ramos-Horta said, they have to demonstrate better budget execution and acceptable plans and programs to the parliament and society. We agree with that. It is too dangerous to the Petroleum Fund to do otherwise until these assurances are in place. We will hold the de-facto government accountable in the parliament on this," added Guterres.

In his first address to the National Parliament on his return from Australia after the February 11 attempt on his life, President Ramos-Horta asked the AMP de-facto government to utilize the extensive governance knowledge and experience of former FRETILIN ministers, such as Dr Mari Alaktiri, Estanislau da Silva, Jose Teixeira and Ana Pessoa to address the critical question of how to ensure the petroleum fund revenues are used to help the poorest of the poor in Timor-Leste, in light of the current world food price crisis.

"FRETILIN has stood ready to work together with all the political forces in our country to find a consensus-based approach to try to resolve the nation's problems and overcome the challenges before us all as Timorese," said Guterres.

"In his May 20 address to the FRETILIN faithful, which also included the presence of a number of foreign ambassadors, our Secretary General, Dr Mari Alkatiri, publicly stated that he is prepared to meet at any time with Mr Xanana Gusmao to discuss how we can all move the country forward. He awaits Mr Gusmao's response," concluded Guterres.

On 23 May 2008, La'o Hamutuk wrote the following open letter to Alfredo Pires, RDTL Secretary of State for Natural Resources, urging public consultation on the draft decree-law to establish a National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

As you know, La’o Hamutuk has closely followed oil and gas issues in Timor-Leste since before the restoration of independence six years ago. We share your goal of maximizing the benefits of petroleum development for Timor-Leste’s people, and ensuring that this development is transparent and well-understood by all. We believe that we have played an important role in helping to bridge between the knowledge, priorities and viewpoints of governments, civil society, petroleum companies, foreign experts, international institutions, the Timorese people and the media.

La’o Hamutuk appreciates the willingness of your Secretariat and its predecessors to meet with us regularly to explain the Government’s plans, perspectives and activities in the oil and gas sector. However, we are concerned about the lack of information and consultation regarding pending legislation about regulating petroleum development.

La’o Hamutuk has asked several times about pending legislation to establish a National Petroleum Authority (NPA). Your special adviser has told us that you do not plan to hold a public consultation on this law, which is fundamental to the future management of Timor-Leste’s most important and dangerous resource. We believe that this approach is contrary to the interests of the people of Timor-Leste, to the law and Constitution of this country, and to often-repeated promises by AMP leaders to respect transparency, good governance, accountability, democracy and the rule of law. We urge you to reconsider.

As you may know, La’o Hamutuk has participated in every Timor-Leste public consultation regarding the petroleum sector. During the previous government, we wrote detailed analyses of the proposed Petroleum Fund law (three times), the Petroleum Act and model PSC, the legislative package on restructuring petroleum industry activities (twice), the ENI seismic environmental plan and the local content guidelines. La’o Hamutuk has made three submissions to each of the Timor-Leste and Australian Parliaments regarding proposed treaties. We encouraged submissions from many others, including international experts and local and international NGOs.

We also made a submission to the only petroleum-related public consultation conducted by the AMP government so far, on the Reliance seismic environmental plan. All of our submissions, as well as many others, are on our website from www.laohamutuk.org/Oil/OilIndex.html.

We believe that our suggestions have helped improve management of Timor-Leste’s petroleum industry. In some cases, such as the draft National Regulatory Authority for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ARNP) and national oil company (PETROTIL) laws circulated in April 2007, our input led to avoiding mistakes which would have damaged Timor-Leste’s future. Because we brought dangerous provisions of those drafts to public attention, the time for consultation was extended and they were not enacted prior to the Fretilin Government being voted out of office.

We appreciate that the AMP Government is redrafting these laws, and that the TSDA and DNPG regulatory mechanisms will be combined in a National Petroleum Authority. We welcomed your announcement at La’o Hamutuk’s public meeting last September that you plan to pass a Petroleum Optimization Law and a Petroleum Depletion law, and that AMP is committed to improve on practices of transparency initiated by the Fretilin Government.

We were also gratified to see, in the State Budget for 2008 approved by Parliament last December, that one of the main programs of SERN for this year is (emphasis added) to “Draft consult and enact legislations for the establishment of the National Petroleum Authority and the Institute for Petroleum and Geology.” Under the SERN Action Plan for this year, we appreciated item III:

III. Establishment of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Institute for Petroleum and Geology (IPG) Drafting, consultation and enactment of the legislation for the establishment of the NPA and the IPG The draft laws, regulations and strategic plans are done thoroughly The draft laws, regulations and strategic plans are to be finished on time and ready to be presented at the Council of Minister in February. 80% of the Draft is to be ready by February 2008, and public consultation and enactment will be done thereafter. It is expected that by the end of March the legislation is enacted.

We are not concerned that the schedule has slipped. However, it now appears that SERN has decided to enact these laws without public consultation, ignoring its promise to Parliament and to the people of Timor-Leste. Prioritizing expediency over democracy contradicts the “Year of Administrative Reform” declared by the Prime Minister.

We understand that the Government through SERN intends to establish the NPA as a decree-law by the Council of Ministers, rather than allowing elected Parliamentary representatives to approve this important legislation. We believe that this is both a legal and a practical mistake, in violation of the letter and spirit of Articles 92 and 95 of the RDTL Constitution, as well as undercutting public confidence in a vital sector. La’o Hamutuk explained this in detail in our July 2007 submission on the package to restructure petroleum regulation, available at

We are also concerned about the long-term stability of the regulatory regime for petroleum development in Timor-Leste. If the NPA is created by decree-law, a future government could modify it in the same way, in secret and without Parliamentary discussion. This possibility undermines the trust of buyers of Timor-Leste’s oil and gas, as well as petroleum companies who operate projects here, that agreements they sign will be honored for the decades that projects will operate. Timor-Leste’s regulatory regime must be built on solid, stable foundations as it is essential for the well-being of our state and future generations.

We understand that one of your priorities at SERN, as well as in the recent reorganization of TSDA, is to give Timorese people more responsibility and authority, and we agree with that.

However, these principles are appropriate for citizens as well as government personnel, and enacting legislation in secret contradicts them.

Furthermore, we have heard that some Timorese staff and international advisors in SERN feel that they have not been informed or consulted about the draft NPA law, and that the legislation was shared with Australian officials before being discussed among knowledgeable people in SERN. We encourage you to use the extensive experience, perspectives and expertise within your own Secretariat. It may be inconvenient to spend a few hours or days on internal consultation, but this legislation will be in effect for many years and each article improved now will avert larger problems in the future.

In his address to the Development Partners last month, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão declared that the IV Constitutional Government is “supported by a set of principles and values:

civic and human rights; tolerance and respect; transparency and good governance; social participation; and compliance with justice and law,….” We believe that these principles and values call for broad internal and public consultation on this legislation.

Thank you very much for your attention, and we look forward to reviewing the draft legislation and participating in a public consultation on the National Petroleum Authority Law, prior to its submission to the Council of Ministers and Parliament.

Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato said that Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão agrees with President José Ramos-Horta to reduce the sentence of former Minster of Interior, Rogerio Tiago Lobato by three months.

“I had discussions with the Prime Minister on this matter. He agrees to give a three month reduction of sentence to Rogerio Lobato and other 82 prisoners,” said Minister of Justice on Wednesday (21/5) in the Becora prison, Dili.

Minister Lobato said that the Government had recommended that the president also commute the time in jail of prisoners who have served half of their sentences by 6-12 months. Prisoners who were sentenced for domestic and sexual violence would receive a two month reduction.

Fretilin Secretary-General Mari Alkatiri stated that in the near future Fretilin will assume the power to govern in order to improve peoples' lives as AMP is not capable of solving the country's problems and so must face early elections.

“We [Fretilin] will be back to govern. It wouldn't be too long,” stated Mr. Alkatiri in speech on the ceremony of 34th anniversary of ASDT/Fretilin held in the Central Committee of Fretilin (CCF) on Tuesday (20/5) in Comoro, Dili.

Alkatiri said that Fretilin will show that it is different from the Alliance Majority in Parliament (AMP).

Alkatiri also said that when Fretilin is back in power, he will reappoint the directors and administrators who have been removed by AMP.

“Fretilin will reappoint those people as what AMP did to them is against the law and the constitution.

Fretilin is only asking for early elections for the legislature, not the presidency. If it happens, then we will win all of them,” he said.

Even though Mr. Alkatiri strongly criticized PM Gusmão, he continues recognize that he and the Prime Minister have to work together to solve the country's problems.

He said that he wants to sit with PM Gusmão as political leaders, not as a commander with his soldier.

“If he [PM Gusmão] does not think of himself as a commander, I am ready to sit with him to improve people’s life,” added Mr. Alkatiri.

At the same function, Fretilin President and former President of the National Parliament Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo said that early elections are really needed to improve the bad performance of the AMP Government.

“We are not satisfied when we won the election, only to become the opposition,” said Mr. Lu-Olo.

Democratic Party (PD) MP Adriano Nascimento said that early elections might happen but certain criteria must be in place. For example, most of the MPs in Parliament must oppose the Government’s programs, the State must be malfunctioning, the situation was unstable -- at this point the president could dissolve the government and call for early elections.

MP Nascimento said that if Fretilin wants to destroy AMP midway in the implementation of its programs, this would be a bad precedent for the future.

He also said that AMP should have 2-3 years to implement its programs. If at that time they were not successful, then one could say it was incompetent.

President of Republic asked the Government to respect the rights of the prisoners - Televisaun Timor-Leste

During the visit to Becora prison yesterday President Jose Ramos Horta said he does not have the authority to interfere in the judicial process but he will make recommendations to the Government to help solve their problems.

“Today I came here to show you my love and respect. I have no authority to take part in the judicial process but I will keep asking the Government through Ministry of Justice to pay attention to you”, the President said.

He also asked the Government to respect the rights of the prisoners. At the same time, Minster of Justice Lucia Brandão Lobato said the Government is now improving the process of justice in order to defend rights of prisoners.

The Court will extend the time for Rogerio Lobato to return until June – Televisaun Timor-Leste

Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato yesterday said the Court will give prisoner Rogerio until June to return to Timor Leste. If he does not return by then, the Government will implement the Court's decision against him.

“The Government is ready to help him whatever he needs, such as an airline ticket and accommodation in Bali. He has to obey the decision from the Court. Suppose he does not come back in June -- the Court will take action.

Based on plan, the Court will ask the Interpol to get him back if he does not obey the decision,” explained Lucia.

According to the doctor who has been treating Rogerio during this time, he needs one month more to operate on Rogerio’s leg.

Public Ministry: 24 suspects identified as being involved in the attack of 11 February – Televisaun Timor-Leste

The Public Ministry has positively identified 24 suspects who were involved in the attack on 11 February. General Prosecutor Longuinhos Monteiro said the investigation process into the attack on 11 February is going smoothly.

“The investigation is running well and we have positively identified 24 suspects in connection with the incidents of 11 February,” said Mr. Monteiro.

Of the 24 accused people, eighteen of them are currently in preventive detention and the others are under house arrest. Most probably, there is still one suspect more, a civilian at large.

In relation to this case, last week I sent the Prime Minister a letter requesting him to make sworn statement.

“I asked to him to specify the exact date when he would submit his statement. This is the second request that we have made for his deposition”, said General Prosecutor.

Government Assists IDPs from Jardim Camp to return home - Ministry of Social Solidarity (Press Release), 21 May

Starting from today, as part of the government’s Hamutuk Hari’i Futuru national recovery strategy, 358 families will receive a recovery grant to assist them to return to their homes from the Jardim IDP camp.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao thanked the IDPs at Jardim for their willingness to return home and for showing their commitment to live peacefully in their former neighborhoods.

He asked the Chefe Sucos, Chefe Aldeias, youth and receiving communities to receive the returning IDPs and put an end to violence. The Prime Minister told the IDPs at Jardim “you are helping to improve the image of Timor-Leste by showing the world that Timorese people can work together to resolve their own problems. The government will work with you to try to resolve all of the country’s problems.”

The Minister for Social Solidarity, Maria Domingas Alves asked the IDPs at Jardim to try and forget what the difficulties they have endured for the past two years, and to try and forgive those who had caused these difficulties.

“Use the opportunity of leaving the camp to try to build a new life, a peaceful life. This is the time for the new generation to build a new, peaceful future for Timor-Leste.”

The Minister assured the IDPs that “we are aware that some of you will face difficulties on return, because your house is occupied, or because you were renting or did not have a house. We will work together to resolve these problems through dialogue.

The government is also creating new policies to help you.” The Minister also thanked the Chefe Sucos and Chefe Aldeias in the receiving communities for their assistance in facilitating the peaceful and safe return of the IDPs from Jardim.

The Camp Manager of Jardim IDP Camp, Leopoldo Pinto, thanked the government for the attention they have given to resolving the problems of Timor-Leste’s displaced people.

“However, we ask the government to improve security in many areas of return, as many returning IDPs are still not welcome in their communities. Also, many IDPs former houses are occupied, and so we ask the government to please pay attention to this issue.”

The Minister for Social Solidarity, Maria Domingas Alves, thanked the SLS agencies which provided the Jardim camp with humanitarian assistance – IOM and Plan. She also thanked Plan for their water and sanitation support to the camp over the past two years.

The return of the IDPs from Jardim brings the total number of IDP families who have received a recovery package to 1370.

The next camp to be assisted to return will be Sional. Verification of the IDPs former place of residence has been completed and MSS is continuing to work on verification of the other camps.

IDPs living in the Quarantina transitional shelter site are becoming self-sufficient thanks to the establishment of a market garden supported by NRC.

Timor-Leste is a young nation struggling to feed its people. With an underdeveloped agricultural sector, together with other difficult realities such as drought, locust infestations and lack of livelihood opportunities, many Timorese go through their daily lives with less food than they need. IDPs are particularly vulnerable to this food insecurity.

Food insecurityAs of end of March 2008, an estimated 30 % of IDPs of a total of 100.000 are living in approx. 58 camps, mainly in the cities of Dili (51 camps) and Baucau (7 camps).

Many of the IDP families who live in the camps are food insecure. They have no employment and rely only on the government’s gradually diminishing food rations.

In order to improve the situation, NRC, in cooperation with the local NGO Fitun FO Dalan, has supported the establishment of a market garden in one of the camps.

Growing staple foodsTogether, NRC and Fitun FO Dalan mobilized 26 IDP families in the Quarantina traditional shelter site to establish a market garden on the rounds of the site. The market garden was established in January and covers an area of approximately 75x30 meters and is divided into 77 plots. Each family has been assigned two 1.2 m x 8 m plots which they plant and harvest as they choose. The most common crops grown are kankun (a green leafy vegetable), cabbage and green beans - all staples in the daily Timorese diet.

NRC Country Director Alfredo Zamudio says all the families have worked really hard on cultivating their plot of land. In April they could finally harvest their first crop.

‘So far, the results have been very good, says Zamudio. ‘The first crop that was harvested in April gave enough produce to provide both food for the families and food to sell in the local markets,’ he says.

Generating incomeThe IDPs in Quarantina are also very satisfied with the market garden.

One plot of kankun can produce two harvests per month, and one plot’s worth of kankun sold at the local markets earns approximately six dollars. For Freitas and the other IDPs this is a substantial addition to the household income, considering the average income in Timor-Leste is US $370 a year.

Some of the families in Quarantina have chosen to keep all their crops for food, while others have chosen to sell all their crops. Others again have done a little bit of both. In total, the families earned approximately 140 US$ from the first market garden harvest.

NRC has been active in Timor-Leste since 2006. NRC currently manages five transitional shelter sites in Dili, through its Camp Management program. In total, the sites house more than 2500 IDPs. NRC also runs shelter and education programs in Timor-Leste.

East Timor President Cuts Former Minister's Jail Sentence – The Wall Street Journal, 21 May

DILI (AFP)--East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday he had slashed the seven-year jail sentence handed out to a former minister for distributing weapons during violent unrest in 2006.

Ramos-Horta said the sentence against former home affairs minister Rogerio Lobato was cut 75% in a show of mercy as part of the country's sixth anniversary of independence this week.

"It is three-fourths," he told AFP when asked the size of the reduction. He added that he didn't know how much more time Lobato would spend in jail because the courts had yet to review the sentence.

"My consideration for him and other cases are humanitarian, their health or family situation. Mr. Rogerio Lobato's health has been precarious for some time."

Lobato was jailed on five charges of arming hit squads during the 2006 unrest in the country, when fighting between factions of the security forces left 37 dead and made 150,000 flee their homes.

But Ramos-Horta said he didn't think Lobato was an instigator of the violence."I sincerely believe that Rogerio Lobato is a decent man who was caught in the crisis of 2006 and he definitely wasn't one of the authors of the crisis," he said.

Lobato received a court permit to travel abroad for treatment last year. He has liver, heart and kidney problems but the exact nature of the care he is receiving in Malaysia is unknown.

He is a senior member of the opposition Fretilin party and founded a guerrilla army that fought Indonesia's 24-year occupation of East Timor, which lasted until 1999. East Timor formally became an independent state in 2002.

Asian rights offenders fight for UN seats – Tamil Net, 21 May

In what is viewed as the most significant contest, six Asian nations, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bahrain and East Timor, are vying for four seats in the UN Human Rights Council where the secret ballot to select the members is being held today. Only Japan and South Korea are designated as "free" by the NGO Freedom House, based on the past voting record and the history of adherence to human rights principles, so the outcome of the Asian race is the one with the most potential to change the council's overall composition, reports said.

Fifteen of the HRC's 47 seats will be decided by U.N. General Assembly secret ballot which is the third annual election for the Geneva-based council, which was established two years ago to replace the widely discredited U.N. Commission on Human Rights, according to CNS web report.

"A campaign by non-governmental organizations aimed at preventing Sri Lanka from being elected to the U.N. Human Rights Council has drawn some support, but the country's bid for a seat is just one of several concerns surrounding this week's election.

"Sri Lanka has drawn particular attention, with a coalition of international NGOs and three Nobel peace prize laureates among those highlighting abuses in the civil war-torn South Asian nation, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture. Sri Lanka's critics are urging U.N. members to withhold support," the report said.

In a recent letter to the participant Governments in the U.N. elections, an NGO consortium said: "To reject Sri Lanka's candidacy at this time would show that U.N. members are serious about the membership standards they established for the council, and bring new attention to the gross violations in Sri Lanka and hope and support to the victims of abuse."

Ramos Horta cuts Lobato's jail term – EPA, 21 May

East Timor's president has sliced the prison sentence of a former government minister who armed civilian hit squads during the violence that destabilized the nation in 2006.

Former home affairs minister Rogerio Lobato was one of dozens of criminals to receive sentence cuts to mark the sixth anniversary of East Timor's independence this week.

"I sincerely believe that Rogerio Lobato is a decent man who was caught in the crisis of 2006 and he definitely was not one of the authors of the crisis," he told AFP.

AFP reported the sentence would be reduced by three quarters.

A spokesman for the president said details of the cuts were yet to be finalized in specific cases.

(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)

Only 80 petitioners still want to return to the military – Timor Post

Of the 339 petitioners who indicated a preference for rejoining the military, only 80 of them still want to return since Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão asked them last week to re-consider their choice of military or civilian life.

“There are 80 petitioners who have not changed their decision to return to the military,” said one of the petitioners who still wants to be rejoin the military due to his love for the F-FDTL.

He also said those other petitioners who changed their minds and now want to enter civilian life are illiterate and have some health problems. Some of them believe that if they return to the military, then they will not receive Government compensation.

Recently the numbers of the petitioners who want to become civilians increased from 356 to 605 out of a total of 685.

The Vice President of the National Parliament Vicente Guterres said that it was good for the petitioners to be civilians as they have abandoned their barracks.Mr. Guterres said that when there is problem within an institution, the problem should be solved internally, not outside of the institution.

“As they have brought the problem out of the institution, if I were them, I would not go back,” said Mr. Guterres.

Democratic Party MP Adriano do Nascimento said that he did not agree with the Prime Minister who had earlier said that it was good for the petitioners, who are illiterate, to return to civilian life. This statement dishonoured the petitioners, he said.

“The petitioners left their barracks because of political matters and actions taken by political leaders [not because they are illiterate],” said Mr. Nascimento.

Be model for the world: PR Horta asks permission for the UN and NGOs to visit Becora prison – Timor Post

On his visit to Becora Prison on Wednesday (21/5) PR Ramos-Horta asked prison guards to allow the Red Cross, UNMIT Human Rights and national NGOs to visit Becora Prison in order to ensure transparency.

“I am requesting this prison to allow visits from the National Red Cross, UNMIT Human Rights and NGOs who work for human rights, not for NGOs who are working for politics. If we do this, then our prison will be a model for the world, a prison that hides nothing and reveals everything,” said PR Horta.

PR Horta also said that he visited Becora Prison as a Nobel Peace Laureate, not as President, Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

President’s pardon: 10 prisoners freed, Rogerio’s sentence reduced – Timor PostOut of 84 prisoners who received pardons from PR Ramos-Horta on Independence Day, 20 May, ten of them have received a full pardon. Rogerio Tiago Lobato, the former Minister of Interior, received only a reduced sentence.

Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato said that the Government's preference is for the president to only reduce Rogerio's sentence by three months as the court had sentenced him to seven years in prison.

Timor-Leste hopes to receive support from MCC – Televisaun Timor-Leste

Minister of Finance Emília Pires said that Timor-Leste hopes to receive funds from the Program of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to help decrease poverty in the country.

“On behalf of the Government, I am happy that MCC is considering Timor-Leste as a potential recipient of financial support. The Government promises to work with MCC to improve socio-economic development and build peace in this country,” said Minister Pires on Thursday (22/5) in Dili.

The Vice President of MCC John Hewko said that Timor-Leste needs to have program of good governance, as such a program could reduce poverty in the country and improve its economy.

Mr. Hewko said that recently MCC had established a monitoring team to follow the country's governance programme.

Minister: Government recommends reduction of three months of Rogerio Lobato’s sentence – Suara Timor Lorosa’e Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato has recommended to the President Jose Ramos-Horta that he reduce only three months of the prison term given to the former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato because of his involvement in arming civilians which caused many people to be killed in 2006. She made the statement to journalists on Wednesday (21/05) while accompanying president Ramos-Horta’s on his official visit to Becora Prison

“The government has recommended only three months reduction of sentence but it depends on the president’s decision,” said Lucia Lobato.

According to the president, the pardon is based on the former Interior Minister's past struggle to free the country. He said that Rogerio has also lost many of his family who sacrificed their lives during the war. Dili's international airport is named after Nicolau Lobato, the former Minister's younger brother who was killed during the struggle for independence.

Ramos Horta cuts jail terms for militia – The Age, 23 MayEast Timor's president has slashed the jail sentences of several pro-Indonesia militia who murdered people during the violence that followed the 1999 vote for independence.

The sentence cuts are among 94 partial or full pardons handed out by Jose Ramos Horta to mark the tiny nation's sixth anniversary of independence this week.

Among those on the list is Joni Marques, the leader of the Team Alfa militia, who will have his remaining jail term cut in half.

Marques was jailed for 33 years in 2001 by the Special Panel of Dili District Court, in the country's first trial for crimes against humanity.

His crimes included several murders, including of a group of nine people comprised of several Roman Catholic priests and nuns and an Indonesian journalist, near the eastern town of Los Palos, in 1999.

He was also convicted of the forcible transfer or deportation of the civilian population and persecution and torture.

It is the second time Marques' sentence has been cut.

In 2004, then president Xanana Gusmao shaved almost nine years off his sentence and those of militia members Paulo and Joao da Costa, who were also jailed over the crimes.

The two da Costa brothers have also had their sentences cut in half in this round of pardons, along with former Sakunar militia member Mateus Lao, aka Ena Pato.

Lao was jailed for eight years in 2004 for murder as a crime against humanity, after killing a man who was trying to flee to West Timor with his family during the 1999 violence.

The presidential decree also confirms the sentence cut of former government minister Rogerio Lobato who gave weapons to civilians during the violence that destabilised the nation in 2006.

Lobato's sentence of more than seven years will be sliced in half.

Lobato has only served about five months of his sentence as he was allowed to fly to Malaysia last August for medical treatment and is yet to return.

The presidential decree - formally gazetted this week - says the granting of clemency is dependent on "good prison behaviour".

President Ramos Horta - who has only recently returned to East Timor after he was shot outside his Dili home - flagged the pardons last month, saying East Timor needed to foster a culture of forgiveness in order to move forward.

The decree states that East Timor's anniversary of independence commemorated the Timorese belief in humankind.

"Believing in the human person ... (in order) to cultivate mercy and tolerance, we extend our hand to help the next person to arise after he has fallen in his dignity," the document says.

But president of the minority pro-justice party PUN, Fernanda Borges, said many East Timorese were unhappy about the cuts.

"I don't think militia should be given a pardon at this stage," she said.

Borges said the process was flawed, with no clear criteria on who is eligible for clemency and no transparency.

"There are no systems in place to judge whether the person has behaved, whether the person has contributed to giving further information to help the judicial process and what the victims' response to this is," she said.

"There are also a lot of trials pending - both for the 1999 cases as well as for the 2006 crisis - what implications will this have on those future trials in East Timor?

"All this needs to be weighed very carefully so that we don't create a perception ... that there is impunity in this country.

"That you can do whatever you want, you can kill people, have human rights violations ... and get away with it and be pardoned by the president."

The United Nations said justice was vital to the future of East Timor, which faced issues of impunity and deterrence.

"The view of the UN is that justice is essential for stability and peace," a spokeswoman for the head of the mission, Atul Khare, said.

However, the granting of pardons was within the powers of the president, she said.

In the case of former minister Lobato, the spokeswoman noted his cooperation with the judicial process so far.

"(Mr Khare) hopes that Mr Lobato will continue such cooperation, including by refraining from any action that might affect the fragility of society," she said.

"This would include, for example, refraining from running for public office."

The sentence cuts come as the controversial East Timor-Indonesia "truth" commission prepares to hand down its final report into the 1999 violence.

The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) was established by the two countries in a bid to establish a "conclusive truth" about the 1999 violence to help repair relations.

East Timor marks six years independence – AFP, 22 May

East Timorese leaders have gathered under tight security for an emotional ceremony to celebrate six years of independence and mourn the country's long and bloody struggle for liberation.

The hacienda-style government palace on Dili's waterfront was bedecked with international flags - including those of former occupiers Indonesia and Portugal - as the country's red-and-black flag was raised under a baking sun.

President Jose Ramos-Horta, who reviewed an honour guard from a jeep, called for peace and unity in Asia's troubled newest state as foreign force snipers watched from the palace roof.

"On this day of independence we have to maintain peace in our nation, fight poverty and protect national unity. This is an obligation of all the people," he said in a speech.

The celebrations come just three months after Ramos-Horta was shot and wounded in a February 11 rebel attack, which also targeted Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

The rebels responsible for the attack surrendered last month but fears of a return to instability are overshadowing Independence Day.

"What happened on February 11 showed that state institutions in our nation are still fragile. But this ceremony also shows that over the past six years we have achieved a lot," the president said.Children sang a hymn and the leaders of the mainly Catholic country honoured more than 1,500 veterans of the independence struggle against Indonesia as part of the festivities.

East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was invaded by Suharto's Indonesia in 1975. Around 200,000 East Timorese died as a result of conflict and preventable illnesses over the next two-and-a-half decades.

The country voted for independence in a 1999 UN-backed referendum but was laid waste by pro-Indonesian militia in the wake of the vote.

It finally gained formal independence in 2002, but was flung into instability again by the mass desertion of 600 soldiers in 2006, which triggered street violence between rival factions that killed at least 37.

That rebellion came to an end after the death of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado in the attack on Ramos-Horta's house in February and the surrender of his followers last month.

But analysts say the seeds of further instability remain in the impoverished country of one million, and political tensions were on show even as the country's leaders made independence speeches.

Prime Minister Gusmão conspicuously refused to shake the hand of opposition leader and ex-prime minister Mari Alkatiri, of the Fretilin party.A new government headed by Gusmão took office in August 2007 amid protest from Alkatiri's party, which won the highest number of votes in June polls but not a governing majority.

Gusmão's party commanded 37 seats in the 65-seat parliament, but Fretilin insisted it should have been invited to rule, sparking sporadic violence in the young nation.

Ado Amaral, a 45-year-old farmer who came down from the hills outside Dili to witness the festivities, said he was glad the event passed without trouble.

"I'm very happy because everything is going well. There's no provocation between people, no disturbances," he said."It's better than other years. I find it hard to think about 2006 but now I see that everything is going well."

UN police Deputy Commissioner Tony McLeod said this year's Independence Day was "a bit of a test to give us a feel for the overall security situation"."It's gone pretty well up 'til now," he said.

U.N. says donors should back Afghan aid plan – Reuters, 22 May

KABUL (Reuters) - The international community should back a $50-billion (25 billion pound) Afghan development strategy at a donors’ conference in Paris next month, but Kabul must also fight rampant corruption, the U.N.’s special envoy said on Thursday.

Afghanistan depends on aid for 90 percent of its spending. But international donors have fallen behind in paying what they have already pledged and much of the money goes straight back to donor countries in salaries and profits. Official corruption eats into the remainder.

More than six years after U.S.-led and Afghan forces toppled the Taliban, Kabul and its Western backers are faced with a revived insurgency and a public frustrated by the lack of security and disappointed with the slow pace of development.

"It’s obvious the international community does not spend its resources as well as it should and it’s obvious that corruption is a much too widespread phenomenon in Afghanistan," the U.N. Special Envoy Kai Eide told a news conference in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

"I would like to see a partnership coming out of Paris where the international community says ’yes, we will spend our resources better’ and the government says ’yes, we will fight corruption more vigorously’," he said.

International donors have pledged some $24 billion at three donor conferences since 2002, but the level of aid to Afghanistan is still many times lower per head than to other countries struggling to emerge from conflict such as Kosovo or East Timor.

This was partly due to the international community underestimating the scale of the problems faced by Afghanistan after nearly three decades of war and also due to the failure to foresee the re-emergence of the Taliban insurgency.

AFGHAN PLAN

The Afghan government has now also drawn up a 5,000-page national development strategy, setting out its goals which it is to present to the June 12 Paris conference hosted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Afghanistan is seeking $50.1 billion from Paris, more than half of which it wants spent on security and infrastructure, the lack of which hampers almost every level of economic development.

"There are certain priorities as set by the Afghan government in its development strategy," said Eide. "We in the international community have to align our resources behind that strategy."

Many donors are wary of giving funds directly to the Afghan government fearing much of it will disappear into the pockets of corrupt officials. Afghanistan is ranked 172 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s corruption perception index.

Consequently, some two-thirds of aid is not channeled through the Afghan government, meaning Kabul has almost no control how the money is spent and the state remains weak and ineffectual.

"We have to spend much more resources and attention on building the state institutions that must be the basis for progress with regard to security anddevelopment," Eide said.

Afghanistan also suffers from a lack of coordination among more than 60 major donor countries and international organisations, dozens of aid agencies and foreign forces who are also engaged in reconstruction and development work.

Eide’s appointment by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in March was meant to bring better coordination to the international community’s efforts in Afghanistan.

The Paris conference, he said, will be a chance for the international community to commit in writing to renewing and improving their efforts in Afghanistan.(Editing by Bill Tarrant)

Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity that provides free surgery to children in developing countries born with facial deformities, will join the United States Navy’s hospital ship, USNS Mercy, during its summer 2008 humanitarian civic assistance deployment. The USNS Mercy mission, Pacific Partnership 2008, will provide humanitarian services to four countries in Southeast Asia.

Operation Smile will be working side-by-side on the USNS Mercy in four countries: Philippines, Vietnam, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea. Approximately 350 children suffering with cleft lips and cleft palates will receive free reconstructive surgery as a result of these medical missions.

Operation Smile Chief Medical Officer Dr. Randy Sherman said, “Operation Smile is honored to participate in the 2008 USNS Mercy Pacific Partnership deployment. After introducing ourselves to the Navy in 2006 during the Mercy mission to Bangladesh, we joined its sister ship, the USNS Comfort last year, for a multi-site partnership in Latin America.

Operation Smile medical volunteers from the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, the United States and other partner countries are excited to join with the Mercy and its crew in bringing new smiles to children throughout the Pacific basin this summer.”

USNS Mercy departed from San Diego, Calif., on May 1. The first mission involving Operation Smile will take place in Cotabato, Philippines, in late May. Free medical evaluations will be conducted by Operation Smile medical volunteers, provided by Operation Smile Philippines, at Cotabato Regional Hospital to identify surgical patients who will then be transported aboard the ship for surgery. Post-operative checks for the patients a week after surgery will also take place at the hospital.

The Philippines was Operation Smile’s first partner country and since 1982, medical volunteers have provided more than 18,800 Filipino children and young adults with free physical examinations, and more than 13,700 have received life-changing surgery during medical missions.

USNS Mercy will move on to Nha Trang, Vietnam, for the next medical mission involving Operation Smile in mid-June. Free medical evaluations will be conducted by Operation Smile volunteers in General Hospital of Khanh Hoa Province to identify surgical patients. Operation Smile’s medical team, made up primarily of volunteers provided by Operation Smile Vietnam and Operation Smile Cambodia, will work with Navy personnel to conduct five days of surgery aboard the ship. Post-operative care will also take place at General Hospital of Khanh Hoa Province. Since 1989, Operation Smile has treated more than 19,000 children in Vietnam through international medical missions, in-country local missions and dental missions.

In mid-July, approximately 45 Operation Smile medical volunteers, many provided by Operation Smile Australia, will work with USNS Mercy’s medical team in Dili, Timor-Leste. The Operation Smile team will provide free medical evaluations at a local hospital and patients will be brought onto the ship for surgery. This marks the first Operation Smile medical mission in Timor-Leste.

Operation Smile volunteers will join the USNS Mercy crew in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in early August. Physical examinations will be provided at Port Moresby General Hospital and then the Operation Smile volunteer medical team, provided by Operation Smile Philippines, will work together for five days with the Navy to provide surgery aboard USNS Mercy. This will be Operation Smile’s inaugural mission in Papua New Guinea.

Operation Smile is honored to be invited to join USNS Mercy’s staff and crew on this deployment. In the summer of 2006, nearly 40 Operation Smile volunteers deployed with the USNS Mercy to Chittagong, Bangladesh and provided free physical examinations at Chittagong Medical College Hospital for more than 140 children. The 54 patients selected for surgery were transported by helicopter from Chittagong to USNS Mercy.

Then in the summer of 2007, Operation Smile joined the USNS Comfort during its humanitarian assistance deployment. Operation Smile volunteers and the ship’s medical team worked together during missions in Nicaragua, Peru and Colombia, providing more than 100 children with free reconstructive surgery.

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)Founded in 1982, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults.

Since its founding, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 115,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its 26 partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.

East Timorese leaders gathered under tight security on Tuesday for an emotional ceremony to celebrate six years of independence and mourn the country's long and bloody struggle for liberation.The hacienda-style government palace on Dili's waterfront was bedecked with international flags -- including those of former occupiers Indonesia and Portugal -- as the country's red-and-black flag was raised under a baking sun.

President Jose Ramos-Horta, who reviewed a guard of honor from the back of a jeep, called for peace and unity in Asia's troubled newest state as foreign stabilization force snipers watched from the palace roof.

On this day of independence we have to maintain peace in our nation, fight poverty and protect national unity. This is an obligation of all the people," he said in a speech.

The celebrations come just three months after Ramos-Horta was shot and wounded in a February 11 rebel attack which also targeted Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

The rebels responsible for the attack surrendered last month but fears of a return to instability are overshadowing the Independence Day cheer.

Security remains tight around the country's leaders, and international troops from a stabilization force which entered the country in the wake of factional fighting two years ago were closely watching Tuesday's ceremony.

"What happened on February 11 showed that state institutions in our nation are still fragile. But this ceremony also shows that over the past six years we have achieved a lot," the president said.

Children sang a hymn and the leaders of the mainly Catholic country honored more than 1,500 veterans of the independence struggle against Indonesia as part of the festivities.

East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, was invaded by Suharto's Indonesia in 1975. Around 200,000 East Timorese died as a result of conflict and preventable illnesses over the next two-and-a-half decades.

The country voted for independence in a 1999 UN-backed referendum but was laid waste by pro-Indonesian militia in the wake of the vote.

It finally gained formal independence in 2002, but was flung into instability again by the mass desertion of 600 soldiers in 2006, which triggered street violence between rival factions that killed at least 37.

That rebellion came to an end after the death of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado in the attack on Ramos-Horta's house in February and the surrender of his followers last month.

But analysts say the seeds of further instability remain in the impoverished country of one million, and political tensions were on show even as the country's leaders assembled on the dias for the independence speeches.

A new government headed by Gusmão took office in August last year amid protest from Alkatiri's party, which won the highest number of votes in June polls but not the majority required to govern.

Gusmao's party cobbled together a coalition commanding 37 seats in the 65-seat parliament, but Fretilin insisted it should have been invited to rule, sparking sporadic violence in the young nation.

Ado Amaral, a 45-year-old farmer who came down from the hills outside Dili to witness the festivities, said he was glad the event passed without trouble.

"I'm very happy because everything is going well. There's no provocation between people, no disturbances," he told AFP.

"It's better than other years. I find it hard to think about 2006 but now I see that everything is going well."

**

UNMIT Daily Media Review - 27 May 2008

(International news reports and extracts from national media. UNMIT does not vouch for the accuracy of these reports)

February 11 case: investigators find 6 more suspects – Timor Post

Six rebels who used to deny that they were not involved in the case of February 11 should now accept the results of the new investigation into the incident that will be presented to the court.

The new investigation shows that they were involved in the attacks against President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. The National Investigation Department (NID) identified the six rebels as being directly involved in the incident.

However, the six rebels deny that they were involved in the attacks of February 11, saying that they were only involved in the Fatuahi case on May 23, 2006.

The General Commander of NID, Nuno R. Gomes said that he presented the information yesterday afternoon (26/5) to the Public Ministry as part of the court hearing on the case.

“We did the previous investigation with the Public Ministry based on their statements that they only involved in the Fatuahi case. But the later investigation identified them as being involved in the attempt of February 11,” said Mr. Gomes on Monday (26/5).

Members of the National Parliament demand that the Government of the Alliance Majority in Parliament (AMP) immediately release an audit report.

The MPs said that the report is very important for them to construct a budget for the implementation of the Government's program.

The Chief bench of the National Unity Party (PUN) Fernanda Borges said that up until now, the National Parliament has not received any audit report of the budget which has been executed.

“We demand that the Government send us the report immediately. We want to know whether the budget has been executed properly or not, and if there is any sign of corruption that has been identified or not,” said Ms. Borges.

Former Prime Minister and Fretilin’s MP Estanislau da Silva said that if the Government does not provide the audit report to the National Parliament, it signals that the current Government is not transparent and is trying to hide existing cases of corruption.

“This is clearly shows that the Government is not transparent. They say that Fretilin is corrupt, but they are the worst,” said Mr. Estanislau.

CNRT MP Aderito Hugo said that every financial report is delivered late to the National Parliament because it has to be annexed with the audit results. The audit report, which was created by international consultants hired by the Government, will also cover the previous government financial report.

Even though Minister of Justice Lucia Lobato has made recommendations to PR Ramos-Horta regarding to the reduction of prisoners' sentences, including former Minister of Interior Rogerio Lobato, no final decision from the president has been received.

“I still not see or receive any report because this is the president’s decision. If this is published in the Jornal da Republica, then it will be considered as a law,” said Minister Lobato on Monday (26/5) in Vila Verde, Dili.

Minister Lobato recommended to PR Horta a reduction of three months from Rogerio’s sentence of 7 and a half years.

The IDPs of Jardim Colmera Camp are unhappy with the payment process of the Government's recovery grants because the funds have still not yet been transferred to IDPs through the Authority Payment Bank (BPA).

The Coordinator of Jardim Colmera Camp, Leopoldino Pinto said that all the IDPs in the camp want to return home but until now the Government has not transferred the money to the Bank.

“We are asking the Government not to make promises that are confusing,” said Mr. Pinto on Monday (26/5).

Manuel Ximenes, an IDP from Baucau, said the Government has to give the money to the IDPs as they are entitled to it.

“We came here to get our rights. Do not lie to us, we have suffered a lot,” said Mr. Ximenes.

CNRT MP Maria de Camara ‘Bisoi’ asked the Government to immediately improve the living conditions of the IDPs, as she does not want people suffering during the time of independence.

She also suggested the Government create actions that promote peace in society and harmonious relationships in the community on the return of IDPs to their homes.

The Chief bench of the National Unity Party (PUN) Fernanda Borges is demanding that the Government immediately send the recommendation which it gave to President José Ramos-Horta concerning his pardon of the prisoners.

Ms. Borges said that the constitution gives the president the authority to pardon prisoners, but he also has to consider the Government’s recommendations.

“What has been said in the recommendation and what justification have they [Government] given regarding the pardons?

It is not enough to say that a pardon is being given to a prisoner because of his/her good attitude and behavior,” said Ms. Borges on Monday (26/5)

Ms. Borges is also questioning whether the president's constitutional authority of the president is being used in a thoroughly legal manner.

“President has authority, but he must use it responsibly, not using without any consultation,” she added.

Cristo Rei rehabilitation: UNMIT supports US$20,000 – Diario Nacional

The United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) has given US$20,000 to the State Secretary of Environment to rehabilitate Cristo Rei.

The State Secretary of Environment Abílio Lima congratulates the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste Atul Khare and his staff who show their commitment to support the Timor-Leste Government.

Mr. Lima said that the UN Mission in Timor-Leste wants to give their solidarity to Timorese people to protect the country's beautiful environment.

UNMIT Spokesperson Allison Cooper said that the rehabilitation funds are coming from donations from UN staff donation serving in the country.

Ms. Cooper also said that the cleaning up and rehabilitation are the volunteer activities of the UNMIT staff to support the nation.

East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said his country must use subsidies to bolster agriculture and protect its food security in the face of soaring import costs.

East Timor, Asia's youngest and least-developed nation, can be ‘mostly’ self-sufficient within five years, Ramos-Horta, 58, said in an interview in Singapore today. About two-thirds of the rice consumed in the country is bought from Vietnam and Thailand.

Cheaper food from overseas can't be relied on because rising fuel prices are ratcheting up transport costs and major rice- producing countries, such as China and India, will need more to feed their own people, leaving less for export, Ramos-Horta said.

The Nobel laureate, who served as prime minister from 2006 until his inauguration as president last year, was shot and almost killed in a Feb. 11 rebel attack.

“At the time I was prime minister I said I am going to subsidize our agriculture sector,'' he said.

“We have to. That would make us independent, and eventually it will be cheaper.''

Ramos-Horta said that using subsidies to protect farmers and encourage domestic agricultural production could irritate multilateral finance agencies, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which advocate free trade as a mechanism for lowering food costs.

“If we do the opposite of what they say, I think that will be about right,'' he said.

Import Surge

The cost of importing rice has more than doubled this year as countries including Vietnam and China curbed overseas sales to protect domestic supplies. Governments worldwide may spend a record $1.035 trillion on imported foodstuffs in 2008 because of higher commodity prices and escalating transport costs, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said in a report last week.

In East Timor, which derives about $100 million a month from its petroleum reserves, farmers are offered incentives to expand crop production, and new roads and bridges are being built to bring food to consumers faster.

The government is considering building warehouses to store food in strategic areas around the country for emergencies to assist ‘vulnerable people’,'' said Ramos-Horta. About 40 percent of the nation's 1 million people live on $1 or less a day.

Matter of Decency

Ensuring the availability of affordable food is ``a matter of decency and morality for the poor, but also a matter of stability and security,'' Ramos-Horta said. The poverty-inducing affects of food inflation ``will set back development efforts in developing countries at least 10 years,'' he said.

Food prices would have escalated more in East Timor had the government not stepped up imports of rice, corn and potatoes to bolster local supplies, the president said.

“With climate change, more industrialization and the development of countries like India and China, there will be less and less land available for agriculture,'' Ramos-Horta said.

“We have to quickly make ourselves completely independent in food.''

East Timor, formally known as Timor-Leste, was established in May 2002, ending 24 years of Indonesian control and three years of UN administration.

Australia cooperating over Ramos-Horta attack – The Age, 26 May

Australia is providing all possible assistance to East Timorese authorities investigating rebel attacks on the nation's leaders, a Senate committee has been told. East Timor's president Jose Ramos-Horta, badly wounded in the February attacks, has criticised Australian Federal Police (AFP) for not fully cooperating with his country's inquiry.

At issue is the Darwin bank account of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, killed by troops after his attack, a large number of calls he made to Australia and claims that some individuals fled to Australia following the attacks on Dr Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão on February 11.

Neither could he comment on suggestions that some individuals had fled to Australia following the assassination attempts.

"Suffice to say that we are giving the East Timorese authorities, the Prosecutor-General and the East Timorese police and the UN our fullest cooperation and assistance where we can," he said.

Reinado's Darwin account, held jointly with Australian woman Angelita Pires, reportedly contains more than $800,000.

Mr Keelty said he had not spoken to Dr Ramos-Horta about the issue.

The AFP had provided substantial assistance to the president in terms of his own close personal protection while he was hospitalised in Australia.

"As far as I am aware the relationship between the AFP and President Ramos-Horta is a very positive one," he said.

"We are providing resources to the United Nations mission in East Timor.

"Prior to the shooting, in December last year, I had very positive discussions with President Ramos-Horta about development of the police in (East Timor) and that is now going to occur through the budget announcements."

Angola: Fretilin Secretary General in Country – Angola Press, 26 May

The general secretary of East Timor's ruling FRETILIM party, Mári Alkatiri arrived Sunday evening in the country in light of the existing bilateral relations between that party and Angola's ruling MPLA party.

Mári Alkatiri did not speak to the press on his arrival, but promised to do so at the end of the four-day visit.

According to MPLA's secretary of the foreign affairs, Paulo Teixeira Jorge, who was at Luanda's "4 de Fevereiro" International Airport to welcome the East Timorean politician, said that FRETILIN expressed interest to visit Angola to carry out an objective analysis of the current situation in East Timor, after the dramatic events that occurred.

The director of the department of foreign affairs, Nelo Rua was with Paulo Jorge at the airport.